Fresh from playing the Donkey in Shrek on the West End stage, funnyman, actor and DJ Richard Blackwood heads to Birmingham to kick off the autumn season of comedy shows at The Drum.

The Clapham-born star set his sights on being a comedian when he was just eight years old after watching comic Richard Pryor live in concert on TV.

He toured the stand-up circuit for four years before getting a big break on MTV in 1997 at the age of 25. He subsequently carved himself out a career as an actor, TV presenter and radio DJ.

After treading the boards in Shrek, his stop at The Drum on Friday is part of a wider UK tour this autumn.

He will be joined at the Aston venue by US comic Will E Robo, who has appeared on MTV Base’s Comedy Funhouse, plus another yet to be announced comedian in a line up that the venue promises will guarantee big belly laughs.

Other stars to perform as part of the Upfront Comedy Season at The Drum include former prison officer turned comedian and TV favourite Ava Vidal (December 6) and Toju, the hip-hop impressionist, best known from Channel 4’s Balls of Steel (October 4).